Fly-tipped rubbish discovered in Cornwall an average of TEN times a day
More than 3,500 incidents of fly-tipped waste were reported to Cornwall Council last year
Last updated 6th Mar 2021
Fly-tipped waste is being discovered in Cornwall 10 times a day on average, figures have revealed.
Data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) shows 3,657 fly-tipping incidents were reported to Cornwall Council in 2019-20, down by 892 on the previous year.
The Local Government Association warned that the offence costs taxpayers almost £50 million a year to clear up.
Dumped waste was found on Cornwall's roads and pavements 1,632 times accounting for 45% of incidents, 483 discoveries were made on footpaths and bridleways (13%) and 261 in back alleyways (7%).
Fly-tipped rubbish can include household waste, white goods and construction waste.
Environmental Charity Keep Britain Tidy says the crime is being driven by conmen who offer to remove household rubbish for a fee but do not dispose of it correctly.
Across England, the most common amount of rubbish dumped and reported to councils is equivalent to a small van load.
Rubbish loads of this size accounted for 34% of all 976,000 fly-tipping incidents nationally last year, including 1,408 in Cornwall.
A further 134 incidents saw fly-tippers discard enough rubbish to fill a tipper lorry each, costing the council £49,350 to clear.
There were also 128 incidents which required multiple loads to clear, at a cost of £47,120.
David Renard, environment spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: "Fly-tipping is inexcusable.
"It is not only an eyesore for residents, but a serious public health risk, creating pollution and attracting rats and other vermin.
"We continue to urge the Government to review sentencing guidelines for fly-tipping, so that offenders are given bigger fines for more serious offences to act as a deterrent".
He added that 'manufacturers should provide more take-back services so customers can hand in old goods when they buy new ones'.
David Renard, Local Government Association
Cornwall Council took action over 615 fly-tipping offences in 2019-20.
The authority undertook 364 investigations, wrote 26 warning letters and issued 35 fixed penalty notices.
It also prosecuted three incidents in court, at a cost of £25,671. Such action resulted in three fines, totalling £103,271, being handed to offenders.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: "This environmental crime is being driven by 'man with a van' operators who are conning the public with what appears to be a cheap way of getting rid of their rubbish, but one that leads to illegal disposal and environmental devastation.
"Tragically, some businesses that hold a waste carrier licence are breaking the law and fly-tipping the rubbish that households pay them to remove.
"This must stop. We believe the only way to prevent further law-breaking is to fundamentally reform the system.
"We need tests and hurdles to ensure waste carriers are legitimate and accountable.
"Licences should be difficult to get, thoroughly checked and essential to carry out door-to-door waste collection".
Allison Ogden-Newton, Keep Britain Tidy
You can check the full figures for Cornwall and the UK here.